A CONCERTED campaign to enhance its risk management strategy looks set to see former winner of the Fleet News' Britain's Safest Fleet competition, Johnson & Johnson Medical, achieve its target of reducing accident rates by 25% this year. So successful has the company's approach been that it has now set itself a target of a further 10% cut by 2001.

Amanda Fitzpatrick, who manages Johnson & Johnson's 400-vehicle fleet, plus another 300 vehicles operated by its businesses DePuy International and Ethicon, said: 'Safe Fleet was launched by our parent company in the US and involves all Johnson & Johnson companies in the world. In the UK we have a comprehensive driver training programme. But this is just one part of a risk management approach that aims to identify and tackle the risks rather than reacting once an accident has happened.'

Every new employee undergoes a driver course on their first day at work before they are given the keys to their car. Staff who have not received any training for three years are sent on a refresher course. As part of this Safe Fleet initiative, Johnson & Johnson has also held its third driver of the year competition in conjunction with DriveTech, its driver training provider since 1998.

The competition is open to all company drivers, whatever their accident record, and consists of a Highway Code and road safety questionnaire plus a 90-minute on-the-road assessment conducted by DriveTech. Ten drivers reached the final. This year's winner was Steve Ross, followed by Kate Markham, with James Backhouse in third place. Johnson & Johnson won the Britain's Safest Fleet Award in 1996 when Fitzpatrick was fleet administrator.